Old Timey Photos of Japan from the Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Metropolitan Museum of Art released almost 400,000 high resolution digital images online that can be downloaded and used for non-commercial purposes. Among those images are photographs from the late 1800’s in Japan. Of particular note are those of photographer Shinichi Suzuki. Most of his photos were hand colored making them appear more realistic and modern than the black and white photos.

Street Minstrel in Gose by Shinichi Suzuki | 1870s

Album of 226 albumen silver prints of Japan by Kusakabe Kimbei | 1860s–90s

Samurai in Yokohama by Felice Beato | 1864–65

Actor in Samurai Armor by Shinichi Suzuki | 1870s

Newsman by Shinichi Suzuki | 1870s

Japanese Man Preparing a Fish by Shinichi Suzuki | 1870s

A Japanese Woman and a Japanese Boy in Traditional Dress by Shinichi Suzuki | 1870s

Cobbler by Shinichi Suzuki | 1870s

Japanese Embassy, Navy Yard, Washington, DC by Mathew B. Brady | 1860

Check out this article that bring the past to life with colorized historical photos.